25 new Apple iPhone features needed for the UK

Two months to go until the iPhone's European release, we've put together a wish list of improvements Apple should make to the handset to ensure you'll buy one when it's released in the UK

The upgrades that could persuade you to buy an iPhone

By
Macworld staff
| 03 Aug 2007

The Apple iPhone has been in the hands of US gadget fans for over a month now, and even those who queued up to get their hands on one of the first models are still discovering new tips on what it can and can't do.

While the first reviews have been broadly positive, iPhone fans still want the device to do more so it fulfil its promises as the best gadget of all time. (See our Apple iPhone review)

So with a month of heavy iPhone use now their, the editors at PC Advisor's sister title Macworld US have all weighed in with a list of things they'd like to see the iPhone do or, in some cases, do better. So here's the wishlist of Apple iPhone upgrades we'd like to see to help make the handset a success in the UK market.

Hardware

A few of our iPhone desires are admittedly out of reach for the current model, as they would require changes to the iPhone's actual hardware.

Add GPS support: We can't say enough good things about the Maps application that helps you easily find locations and driving directions with a few simple taps. Actually, there's one other good thing we hope to say about Maps in a future version of the iPhone - it would be the ultimate mapping application if it knew where you actually were at all times. With wireless access to Google's regularly-updated maps (or the ability to pre-load maps for a region on your iPhone), a GPS-enabled iPhone would be a reasonable alternative to a full-featured GPS receiver for many people.

Go 3G: Many people hoped the first iPhone would feature support for 3G, a wireless technology that offers better network performance than the EDGE network that the iPhone actually uses in the US (though 3G is still slower than Wi-Fi). Apple has said the reason 3G support wasn't included in the first iPhone was that available 3G hardware would have hampered battery life, and that AT&T's current 3G network isn't widely available. AT&T says its 3G coverage is currently limited to 160 metro areas, although the company is expanding that coverage. In contrast, the iPhone's EDGE network is available in most AT&T coverage areas. Still, you can expect to see 3G support in a future iPhone model - and that will improve the phone's wireless capabilities.

The interface

The iPhone's interface is its bread-and-butter, and it's tasty toast at that. But sometimes you run into a piece that just feels half-baked. As cool and 'ooh'-inducing as the iPhone's multi-touch interface is, there are things about it that don't quite feel finished.

Let us select text: Although the iPhone tries to anticipate your text manipulation needs, and provides you with a few ways of shunting information from one app to another, there are times when it's like driving in central London: you just can't get there from here. Say you want to send an address to a friend from the Maps app, or perform a Google search for a term on a web page. Maybe you just want to delete a large amount of text quickly. There's no way to do that now - instead of grabbing a block of text, swiping your finger brings up the magnifying loupe. Adding text selection capabilities - along with cop, cut and paste commands - would fix this problem in a blink.

Comments

Bioshox - 18:37 04-08-2007

hardmanb - 23:54 03-08-2007

A thoughtful well-written article that lists nearly every conceivable desired feature for the iPhone. As you (fairly) note, there are presently work-arounds on some...and more developing all the time.

The "secret sauce" for the iPhone is software. Software and Apple's policy of steady enhancement, along with third-party add-ons are coming for most of the lacks. The iphone is a version 1.0 totally new product for Apple, rushed to market in a deadline, and those familiar with Apple are confident that many of the admittedly critical "missing features", such as IM, multiple deletes,3G network capability, cut and paste and text-editing...WILL be added.

While no device can have all features and please everyone, and the iPhone is not target at the entire cellphone market, keep in mind the slogan of many US sports fans..."Just wait until next year"...and then take another look at the iPhone.